The Dude abides in great new 'Lebowski' release
"The Big Lebowski" (10th Anniversary Edition): "The Big Lebowski" is one of the best comedies ever made. There, I said it.
Yes, the movie baffled critics and audiences when it came out - it was the Coen brothers' follow-up to their Oscar-winning "Fargo" - but it has since developed the devoted following it deserves. Thankfully, this third DVD release for the film finally provides fans with some decent bonus features.
Jeff Bridges plays The Dude, a.k.a. Jeff Lebowski, a genial, aging pothead whose happily aimless life consists of bowling with his buddies and drinking White Russians. When thugs mistake The Dude for a different Jeff Lebowski, a millionaire whose wife owes them money, it hurls The Dude into a Raymond Chandler-like plot of kidnapping, lies and extortion, one that he tries to navigate without losing his buzz.
You've never seen (or heard) characters like these before - flawed but lovable losers who occupy the bottom rungs of the Los Angeles social ladder and speak wonderfully odd, hilarious, profane and circular dialogue - sort of like David Mamet for stoners. Bridges deserved an Oscar nomination for his brilliant portrayal of the stammering, perpetually confused Dude. John Goodman, Julianne Moore and John Turturro all provide priceless supporting turns. It's one of the best ensemble performances ever.
"Lebowski" has appeared on DVD twice before, with meager special features both times (as is usual for Coen brothers flicks). This two-disc 10th anniversary set isn't perfect - a cast commentary would have been wonderful - but it does offer more than any other Coen DVD I'm aware of. There's a retrospective featurette with all principal cast members, a short look at the dream sequences, a look at the film's fan following and, best of all, a visit with Bridges and a book of photographs he took while on the set. A solid DVD set for a comic masterpiece. (R; Universal, $19.98)
"Baby Mama": The talents of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler go wasted in this disappointing comedy. Fey plays Kate, a 37-year-old professional in Philadelphia whose life is great except for one thing: She wants to have a baby. When her attempts at in vitro fertilization don't work, she decides to "hire" Angie to be a surrogate mother. Angie, played by Poehler, is a high-school dropout with virtually nothing in common with the polished, accomplished Kate. When a fight with her common-law husband spurs her to move in with Kate, the usual "Odd Couple" sparks fly. Fey and Poehler are both gifted comics and they have great chemistry on screen. The script, though, just isn't that funny. The DVD includes a making-of featurette, a commentary and deleted scenes. (PG-13; Universal, $29.98)
"Cool Hand Luke" (Deluxe Edition): The classic 1967 drama looks stunning on this new DVD release, with all the heat and dust and shadows of Conrad Hall's cinematography beautifully preserved. And the movie holds up well, despite its occasional heavy-handedness. Paul Newman, in one of his signature roles, plays Lucas "Luke" Jackson, a war hero sentenced to a nightmarish Southern prison for a minor act of rebellion. Once jailed, Luke endures unimaginable brutality as he tries to fight the system. Luke's road to martyrdom (complete with a "crucifixion" shot) can go over the top at times, but pitch-perfect acting from Newman and a stellar supporting cast keep things grounded. "Cool Hand Luke" belongs in any movie-lover's library, right next to other '60s landmarks like "Bonnie and Clyde" and "The Graduate." In addition to the gorgeous video transfer, this new DVD includes a commentary by a Newman historian and a nice making-of featurette. (PG; Warner Home Video, $19.97)
"Child's Play" (20th Birthday Edition): Who would've thought a slasher flick about a killer doll would merit a "20th birthday" release? But 1988's "Child's Play" remains, silly premise and all, a solid slice of comic horror. This DVD offers the first widescreen transfer of the fan-favorite flick, along with some nice retrospective featurettes. Best of all, we get to hear commentary on specific scenes from Chucky, the doll who terrorizes a Chicago family in the film (and went on further rampages in four sequels). For Chucky fans, this DVD should make for a happy birthday, indeed. (R; MGM; $14.98)